COLLECTOR Vs. HANS RAJ

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This appeal and Misc. First Appeals Nos. 33, 37, 40, 45 and 48 of 1959 are directed against orders made by the learned Additional District Judge, Bilaspur, in references made by the learned Collector, Bilaspur, under Section 18 ot the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, hereinafter to be referred as the Act. A common question of law arises in all the appeals and for the sake ot convenience I propose to dispose of all of them by this order.

(2.) The respondents were tenants of shops acquired for the construction of Bhakra Reservoir Lake and were awarded by the learned Collector their earnings for a period of three months as compensation. They were not satisfied by the award and required the Collector to make references under Section 18 of the Act. Their contention was that the learned Collector had underestimated their monthly income and had erred in awarding three months' earnings only as compensation.

(3.) The learned Additional District Judge did not interfere with the finding recorded by the learned Collector as to the monthly income ot the respondents. He, however, awarded to them one year's income as compensation.